Shape‐Memory Effect by Specific Biodegradable Polymer Blending for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Specific biodegradable polymers having shape-memory properties through "polymer-blend" method are investigated and their shape-switching in body temperature (37 °C) is characterized. Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) are dissolved in chloroform and the films of several blending ratios of PLCL/PLGA are prepared by solvent casting. The shape-memory properties of films are also examined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Among the blending ratios, the PLCL50/PLGA50 film shows good performance of shape-fixity and shape-recovery based on glass transition temperature. It displays that the degree of shape recovery is 100% at 37 °C and the shape recovery proceeds within only 15 s. In vitro biocompatibility studies are shown to have good blood compatibility and cytocompatibility for the PLCL50/PLGA50 films. It is expected that this blended biodegradable polymer can be potentially used as a material for blood-contacting medical devices such as a self-expended vascular polymer stents and vascular closure devices in biomedical applications.

Recovery stress and work output in hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine)‐modified shape‐memory epoxy polymers

“…In the experiments to determine recovery stress, five different maximum stresses were chosen (2,4,6,8,and 10 MPa) in order to analyze how maximum applied stress during path 1-2 of the programming affected recovery stress generation. In the experiments performed to determine the mechanical work, the maximum stress applied during programming was chosen as 0.75 of the stress at break in order to perform a comparative study with the same level of load for each sample.…”

“…[2][3][4] SMPs have attracted a lot of interest in recent years due to their use in a wide range of applications such as self-deployable structures, temperature sensors, electronic devices or biomedical applications. [5][6][7][8] According to Liu et al, 9 SMPs can be classified in four different classes depending on their chemical structure and transition temperature. Among them, chemically crosslinked glassy thermosets (class I) have been extensively studied due to their high recovery and fixity ratio, high tensile modulus below the glass transition temperature and excellent rubber elasticity above the glass transition temperature.…”

Biodegradable shape memory polyurethanes with controllable trigger temperature

“…For biomedical applications, controlling of trigger temperature is of great importance. Polymer blends from poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) showed good performance of shape fixity and shape recovery at 37 C and could be potentially used as a material for self-expanded vascular polymer stents or vascular closure devices [34] . The shape memory actuator for vascular applications from photocrosslinkable allyl groups, poly(-caprolactone)-co-(-allyl carboxylate -caprolactone) was reported by Boire et al [35] .…”

Improving of Mechanical and Shape-Memory Properties in Hyperbranched Epoxy Shape-Memory Polymers

“…However, it can also be driven by light, a magnetic field, or an electrical current. These smart materials have attracted a lot of interest in recent years due to their wide range of applications including self-deployable structures for aerospace applications, biomedical devices, or smart fiber and fabrics [2][3][4].…”